Adjustable door frames



Nov. 18, 1958 E. P. MASCARI ADJUSTABLE DOOR FRAMES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 7, 1955 INVENTOR. ELTON P. MASCA/P/ A TTORA/EY Nov. 18, 1958 E. P. MASCARI ADJUSTABLE DOOR FRAMES 2 Sheds-Sheet 2 Filed March 7, 1955 \ik m INVENTOR. EL 70/V MASCA/P/ BY (/QaQ-i TTOR/VEY United States. Patent ADJUSTABLE DOOR FRAMES Elton P. Mascari, Levittown, N. Y., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to Conjaur Corporation, Mineola, N. Y.

Application March 7, 1955, Serial No. 492,510

Claims. (Cl. 18946) This invention relates to building construction materials, and more particularly it relates to adjustable frames or trim to be used about building openings.

In the building industry it is desirable to provide an enclosure frame or trim which may be applied about the wall edges defining an opening with a minimum of labor and in a minimum of time. Attempts which have been made heretofore in an effort to solve this problem have proven' unfruitful. The reduction in building costs resulting as a consequence of employing structures issuing from such attempts have hardly been sufficient to justify their use.

The desideratum of the instant invention is to provide a frame or trim of novel construction which may be applied rapidly, easily and permanently to walls of varying widths in a fraction of the time and with a fraction of the labor involved in the installation of prior known structures.

Hitherto, in the usual method of installing a metal frame or trim it was necessary to securely prop the same in its desired location between the bucks of the opening before the'wall was completed. After having propped and secured the frame or trim in position the wall was then built up around it and into it between the moulding portions thereof. The instant invention eliminates this costly and time consuming practice and has as its object the provision of a prefabricated metal frame or trim constructed in a plurality of sections, but adapted to be shipped to the building site as a packaged unit to be applied to an opening of the building afterthe walls thereof have been completed.

In this regard a feature of the invention resides in the novel cooperating securing structure on each of the sections which enables the same to be shipped as a unit without expensive packaging and also permits the sections thereof to be relatively movable so that each section may be applied to an opening and adjustably secured together after the walls thereof have been completed.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel adjustable frame or trim which may be applied to walls of varying widths.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a frame or trim havin'g adjustable sections and novel securing means operable to permit the adjustment of the same and to secure the same to a wall in their adjusted positions. To this end the novel securing means, being so simple in operation, obviate the need for and direction of a skilled artisan as in hitherto known structures.

Still a further object is to provide a frame composed of a plurality of relatively adjustable sections each cooperating with the other in a unique manner to provide a novel adjustable joint therebetween.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the structures and arrangements hereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an exemplary representation in perspective, of

"ice

2 the manner of applying the novel frames ortrims constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention about an opening defined in a wall.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a part of a door frame or trim taken substantially along lines II--II of the exemplary showing in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial front view of Fig. 2 taken in the direction of the arrow III.

Fig. 4 is another embodiment of a frame or trim constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention as taken substantially along the lines II--II of the exemplary representation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is still another embodiment of the door frame or trim constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention as taken along lines II-II of the exemplary representation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a front view of Fig. 5 taken in the direction of the arrow VI.

Fig. 7 is a plan section of a portion of one of the adjustable sections shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is still a further modification of the frame or trim constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention and as taken along lines IIII of the exemplary representation of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1 there is shown an exemplary representation of the invention. Because the frames or trims shown in the drawings are intended to function in substan'tially the same manner, it is believed that Fig. 1 will be helpful in providing a clearer explanation of each of the embodiments. In Fig. 1 only a portion of an opening 10 is shown defined in the wall 12. The top of the wall is cut away and as a consequence the top of the opening is not shown in the drawing.

To.frame or trim the opening 10 in accordance with the teaching of the invention, two separable metal sections 14 and 16 of a unit are positioned on either side of the wall 12 and of the opening 10 to be framed. Each of the metal sections 14 and 16 includes a pair of side legs 18 and 20 and a connecting top 22. Spaced along the side legs 18 and 20 of each of the sections 14 and 16 are a plurality of cooperating horizontally aligned securing means 24 which are relatively adjustable to secure the sections to each other and from movement away from each other after the same have been positioned about the opening 10 and against their respective sides of the wall 12. j i

It will be readily understood that the tops 22 on each of the sections 14 and 16 will fit against the portion of the wall 12 which defines the top of the opening 10, but which has been omitted from Fig. 1 in order to better show the invention. The side legs 18 and 20 of each of the sections 14 and 16 are adapted to be moved within the opening l0 and also to fit along an outer portion of the wall 12. To properly secure the sections about the opening 10 and the bordering sides of the wall 12 wall certain one of the sections whereby the section may be fastened to the studs or bucks 26. To further clarify the subsequent description of the disclosed embodiments a door 28 is shown hinged to the section 14.

Mindful of the foregoing description of the example shown in Fig. 1, reference is now made'to the embodiment shown in Figs. 2 and 3, wherein the section 114 includes a moulding portion having an inturned leg 132 which is adapted to engage and fit tightly against its respective side of the wall 12. A door jamb 134 is bent at i an angleto the moulding portion 130 and defines a guiding frame for the door 128 when the same is swung to its closed position as seen in Fig. 2. Also included in the section 114' is astop strip means (not numbered) having a stop surface 136 to limit the swinging ofthe door 128 within the confines of the jamb 134, and a face 138 to cover the edges or bucks 26 of the wall 12.

Spaced from and behind the stop strip face 138 is a guide member 140 cooperating therewith toform a guideway therebetween. The guide member 140 may be secured to the section 114 by'any suitable means, however, in practice it is secured by welding. Provided on the guide member 140 are a plurality of securing means 142 which are in the form of ratchet teeth aligned to serve as an extended ratchet. From Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings it will be noted that the guide member Mt is longer than the stop strip face 138 and extends therebeyond to allow sufficient room for driving nails 144 (Fig. 2) through holes 146 (Fig, 3) in the guide member into the buck 26 without mutilating the face 138. In this way the section 114 may be secured in place after having been moved against its side of the wall 12;

The adjustable frame section 116 is substantially similar in construction to that of thesection 114 in that it includes a moulding portion 148 having an inturned leg 150 adapted to engage and fit tightly against its respective side of the wall 12. Section 116 also includes a jamb 152, and a stop strip means (not numbered). The stop strip means includes a face 154 and a stop surface 156. Secured on the section 116 is a securing member 158 which has a series of ratchet teeth 160 adapted to cooperate with the ratchet teeth 142. Although the securing member 158 is shown as a separate member secured to the back of the face 154 it is also conceivable that the teeth 160 may be formed directly on the back of the face 154 therein, note the guide member 140. Similarly the teeth 142 of the section 114 may be formed on a separate member, such as the member 158 and then secured to the guiding member 140.

When the frame or trim is shipped to the building site, the sections 114 and 116 are securely held together by the securing means 142 and 160 and shipped as a unit, obviating the need for elaborate packaging. When it be comes necessary to frame the opening defined in the wall 12, the two sections 114 and 116 are separated each from the other by inserting a pick or screwdriver through the opening 162 provided in the stop surface 136 of the section 114. The screwdriver may he moved between the teeth 142 and 160 to lift the teeth 160 to disengage the same. There may be one of these openings 162 in alignment with each one of the plurality of securing means on the section 114 to permit disengagement of the same when desired.

After the sections have been separated, the section 114 is moved with its stop strip means and guide member 140 into the wall opening 10 until the leg 130 of the moulding portion 132 engages its respective side of the wall 12. Nailsor other'securing means 144 are then driven into the'buck 26 by way of the holes 146 provided in the guide member 140. Once the nails 144 have been driven into the buck, the section 114 is securely retained in position about'the opening10 and its respective side of the wall The section 116 is then moved into the confines of the opening 10 with the stop strip face 154 and the securing member 158 telescoping adjustably in the guideway between thestop strip face 138 and the guide member 140 of the section 114 to engage the ratchet teeth 160 and 142 with each other. The extent to which the stop strip face 154 will move into the guideway section 114 and cooperate with the stop strip face 138 to define therewith a-single continuous stop strip means or face depends upon the width between the sides of the wall 12. That is to say, when the leg 150 of the moulding portion 148 abuts against its respective side wall 12, the section 116 is thenlimited from further telescopic and adjustable movement relative to the section 114.

After the legs 150 and 130 abut their respective sides of the wall 12, the frame unit is secured in position about the opening-10 of the wall and'the openings 162 in the stop surface 136 may be plugged closed by any suitable plug means (not shown). Hence, if it is desired at some future time to remove the frame or trim from about the wall 12, the plugs in the openings 162 may be removed and a screwdriver or other suitable means inserted thereinto and between the coacting securing ratchet means 142 and to lift the teeth 160 from engagement with the teeth 142, thereby to disengage the securing means and enable the sections to be separated from each other.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 the section 214 includes a moulding portion 230 having a leg 232, a jamb 234 in which a door 228 is guided, and a stop strip means (not numbered). The stop strip means includes a stop surface 236 which limits the swinging of the door 228, a face 238, and an end face 239. Intermediate the length of the stop strip face 228, between the stop surface 236 and the end face 239, is an angular guide memher 237 which may be secured to the back of the face 238 by welding or any other suitable means. It will be noted that the member 237 has a depending leg (not numbered) the edge of which is in alignment with the edge of the end face 239 for a purpose which will become clear as the description proceeds.

A guide member 230 is secured by welding or any other suitable means to the inside of the jamb 234. The guide member is spaced from the edges of the angular member 237 and the stop strip end face 239 to form therewith a guideway in which a portion of the section 216 will telescopically and adjustably move. Extending along the forward surface of the guide member 240 are a plurality of securing means 242 in the form of a series of ratchet teeth. As was described in the prior embodiment, the section 214 may be secured to the buck 26 of the wall 12 by nails 244 which are driven through openings (not clearly shown in Fig. 4 but similar to the openings 146 in Fig. 3), in the end portion of the guide member 240 to provide driving access to the nails and to minimize the damage to the face 239.

The section 216 also includes a moulding portion 248 having a wall engaging leg 250, and an elongated jamb 252 which abuts and telescopically cooperates with the edge of the stop strip end face 239 to form therewith an adjustable joint between the two sections 214 and 216. Mounted on the section 216 is a securing member 259 having a series of ratchet teeth 260 adapted to cooperate with the securing or ratchet teeth 242 on the section 214.

Although the securing member 258 is described as being separate from the jamb 252, it is also possible that the teeth 260 may be formed directly on the back of the jamb. Similarly, the securing ratchet teeth 242 of the section 214 may be formed on a separate member and then secured to the guiding member 240.

The operation of the instant embodiment is substantially the same as that disclosed in the embodiment shown and described in,Figs. 2 and 3. That is to say, the two sections 214 and 216, may be telescoped one within the other and shipped to the construction site as a unit without the necessity of expensive packaging. There they may be separated, as for example, by inserting a screwdriver into a hole (not shown) which may be provided in the stop strip stop surface 236 as was described in the prior embodiment.

The section 214 may then be secured by the nails 244 to'the buck 26 and to its respective side of the wall 12, and within the confines of the opening 10 to be trimmed. The section 216 is then adjusted relative to the section 214 by telescopically inserting the elongated jamb 252 and the securing member 258 and its securing means 260 into the guideway formed between the edge of the face' 239 and the member 237 and the guide member 240.

The section 216 is then adjusted relative to the section 214 by ratcheting the teeth 260 over the teeth 242 until the leg 250 engages its respective side wall 12, while anadjustable joint is formed between the two sections by the abutting edge ofthe end face 239 with the telescoping surface of the jamb 252. t l

Referring to theembodiment shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, it will be noted that the structure is similar to that disclosed in the prior described embodiment of Fig. 4. Section 314 includes a moulding portion 330 having a wall engaging leg 332, a jamb 334 in which a door is guided, and a stop strip means (not numbered). The stop strip means includes a stop surface 336 which limits the swinging of the door 328, a stop strip face 338, and an end face 339. Mounted on the section 314 are securing means342 shown in the form of a worm. The worm securing means 342 is rigidly and securely held to the section 314 at its head by an angle 337 and at its narrowed tip by an angle 341.

The angle 337, secured as by welding to the section 314, abuts the head of the worm 342 against the back of the stop surface 336 and in line with and to cover the rear of an opening 362. In this way the securing means 342 is restrained from movement relative to the section, but at the same time permitted to be rotated. The tip angle 341, also secured to the section 314 by any suitable means, retains the narrowed tip of the worm 342 in a fixed position relative to the section at all times. The opening 362 affords access to a screwdriver slot in the head of the rotatable member 342 so that the same may be rotated by a screwdriver for a purpose to be described.

A guide member 340 is secured to the section 314 as by welding and is spaced from and to cooperate with the stop strip face 338 and the edgeof the stop strip end face 339 to provide a guideway therebetween for the section 316. In Figs. 5 and 7 of the drawings it will be noted that the guide member 340 extends beyond the end face 339 to afford access to the nails 344 which are driven into the buck 26 through the openings 346 to secure the section 314 within the opening and about its respective side of the wall 12. The openings 346 (only one of which is shown in Figs. 5 and 7), are similar to the openings 146 described and shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The adjustable section 316 includes a moulding portion 348 having an inturned leg 350 which is adapted to engage and fit tightly against its respective side of the wall 12. Also included in the section 316 is an elongated jamb 352 which is telescopically adjustable in the guideway defined in the section 314 by the guide means 340 and the stop strip means and end face 339, and at the same time is in sliding abutment with the end face, to form an adjustable joint therewith. Mounted on the jamb 352 of the section 316 is a securing member 359 having a series of helical teeth 360 adapted to cooperate with the securing worm 342.

Although the securing means on the sections 314 and 316 have been disclosed as a worm and cooperating helical teeth, it i within the contemplation of the invention that the worm 342 may be substituted for by a rotatable ratchet screw, and the helical teeth 360 may be substituted for by a cooperating ratchet surface similar to the surfaces 142 and 242 in the respective prior embodiments.

The sections 314 and 316 may be telescoped one within the other by rotating the securing ratchet or worm 342 with a screw-driver until the cooperating ratchet or helical teeth 360 are engaged securely therewith. The two sections may then be shipped as a unit without the requisite expensive and time-consuming packaging in use in prior art structures. They may be separated simply by inserting a screwdriver into the opening 362 and rotating the securing means 342 until the securing means 360 are disengaged therefrom.

The section 314 may then be applied to the opening 10 and to its respective side of the wall 12 after which the nails 344 are driven into the buck 26 to securely retain the section in position. The section 316 is then telescopically adjusted relative to the secured section 314 by inserting the elongated jamb 352 and its securing means 360 into the guideway formed between the edge of the face 339 and the guide member 340. The leg 350 of the section 316 is then adjusted to abut against its respective side of the wall-12 merely by rotating the securing means 342 while the sliding abutment formed between the edge of the face 339 with the telescoping surface of the jamb 314 defines an adjustable joint between the two sections.

In the modification shown in Fig. 8 section 414 includes a moulding portion 430 having an inturned leg 432, a jamb 434 in which a door 428 is guided and a stop strip means (not numbered). The stop strip means includes a stop surface 436 to limit the swinging of the door 428, a face 438, and a turned end 441. Rigidly mounted on the section 414 is a rotating securing means 442 shown in the drawings in the form of a worm. The rotating member 442 is rotatably mounted at its head by the angle 437 and at its narrowed tip in the turned end 441. The angle 437 abuts against the back of the head of the securing means 442 to retain the same against the back of the stop surface 436 and in closing alignment with a screwdriver opening 462. The screwdriver opening 462 affords access to the head of the securing means 442 to enable rotation of the same for a purpose which will be described.

The section 416 includes a moulding portion 448 having an inturned leg 450 adapted to engage a side of the wall 12. Also included in the section 416 is a jamb 452 and a stop strip means 454 which is adapted to adjustably cooperate with the stop strip face 438 of the section 414 to define therewith a single continuous stop strip face when the two sections are applied about the opening 10 and to their respective sides of the wall 12.

Spaced from the stop strip face 454 and secured to the section 416 as by welding, is a guide member 440. The guide member 440 is elongated to extend beyond the edge of the stop strip face 454 so that nails 444 may be driven: through openings (not numbered) in the guide member 440 to secure the same to the buck 26 without damage to the section. The holes or openings in the guide member 440 through which the nails 444 pass, are substantially the same as those described and shown in the previous embodiments. Mounted on the guide member 440 is a securing member 459 having a series of securing means 469 in the form of helical teeth which are adapted to cooperate with a rotatable securing means 442 on the section 414.

In this regard the cooperating securing means 442 and 460 are substantially the same as the cooperating securmg means 342 and 360 disclosed in the embodiment of Figs. 5, 6 and 7, and although the securing means have been described as taking the form of a worm and cooperating helical teeth, it is within the contemplation of the invention that the worm 442 may be substituted for by a rotatable wide thread screw ratchet, and the cooperating helical teeth 460 may be substituted for by a ratchet surface similar to the surfaces 142 and 242 in the embodiments shown in Figs. 2 and 4 respectively.

When employing the present embodiment, the section 416 is moved into the opening 10 until its leg 450 engages its respective side of the wall 12. The guide member 440 is then secured to the buck 26 by the nails 444. The section 414 is then telescopically adjusted in the guideway formed between the guide member 440 and the stop strip face 454 until the rotating securing or ratchet means 442 engages with the cooperating ratchet or securing means 460. Subsequent rotation of the securing means 442 by way of a screw driver inserted into the screwdriver slot of the member 442 through the access opening 462 will bring the leg 432 of the section 414 into engagement with its respective side of the wall 12.

If desired, the openings 462 may then be plugged to cover the same. However, inasmuch as the head of the securing member 442 is in abutment with the rear of the stop face 436, the openings 462 will be closed.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to several preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated and in their operations may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a frame to be applied to an opening, a first section including a stop strip face, a guide means and ratchet means immovably secured directly to a wall of the opening, and a second section including a stop strip face and ratchet means, said second section and its respective stop strip face and ratchet means being telescopically movable relative to and between said stop strip face and said secured guide means of said first section whereby said ratchet means on said first and second sections are guided into cooperation automatically to secure said sections relative to each other to define a unitary frame and said telescopic faces define a single stop strip face.

2. In a frame for an opening, a first section including a stop strip face, a jamb and a moulding each arranged coextensively, guide means spaced from the stop strip face to define a guideway therewith and secured on said first section to rigidify said coextensive face, jamb and moulding and being immovably mounted on the wall of an opening to mount said first section thereto, securing means immovable on said guide means, and a second section including a face and securing means movable telescopically in said guideway relative to said stop strip face to form a continuation thereof, said last named securing means moving progressively into securing engagement with said immovable securing means.

3. In a frame for an opening, a first section having a pair of legs disposed along one side of an opening, a plurality of ratcheting means space-d vertically along said legs and immovably secured directly to an adjacent wall of the opening to secure said legs about the opening,

. 8 a stop'strip face on each leg, said ratchetfnieans being spaced from said stop strip face't'o define a guideway therebetween and a second section having a pair of legs each including a face and ratchet means movable telescopically in said guide ways for progressive cooperating engagement of said ratchet means of said second section with said immovable ratchet means of saidfirst section.

4. A frame for an opening comprising a first section having a moulding, a jamb and a stop strip face each in contiguous arrangement, a plurality of guide and ratchet means immovably secured to a wall-of the opening and to said first section to rigidly secure said section about a portion of the opening, said guide and ratchet means defining a guideway with said stop 'strip face, and a second section including a stop strip face movable in said guideway and having a pluralit'y'of ratchet means thereon for progressive ratcheting engagement with said immovable ratchet means.

5. A frame for an opening comprising first and second telescopically movable sections, each of said sections having coo-perable faces and securing means, said first section including guide means thereon spaced from said face thereof to define a guideway in whichsaidface of said second section is movable, said guide means being immovably secured to a wall of the opening to immovably mount said first section thereto, and said securing means of said first section being fixed on said immovable guide means.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED sTATEs PATENTS 

